The Effects Of System Dynamics Approach In Science Education In Middle School

Abstract

The aim of this study is to 1) apply system dynamics approach in 7th grade middle school students in science and technology course, 2) determine the problems in field application, 3) improve the students attitude against course and some skills such as problem solving, understanding the causal relationship and graphing with analyzing the relationship, 4) provide an effective learning and teaching tools for students and teachers. Another aim of this study is to investigate how system dynamics approach help constructivism. The experimental design with pre-post test with control group is applied in this research. The study was applied with 81 students in middle schools in Istanbul Turkey. Five assessment tools are used: "Science and Technology Course Attitude Scale", "Scientific Success Test", "Cause-Effect Relationship Scale", "Graphing and Analyzing Skills Scale", "Problem Solving Skills Inventory". Improvements due to system dynamics are observed in the tests that measure: scientific success, perceived problem solving skill, ability of undestanding graphics, ability of understanding causality relationships. However in the boundaries of the research, no improvements were observed in the following attitudes: perceived understanding of causality relationships, perceived graphics drawing and reading ability, perceived interest into science and technology course.